ROME THE ETERNAL CITY:
I love Rome, its a feast, but honestly too rich, too grand, too much to swallow whole. We drink it in, savor it, but the weight of history, the press of bodies, the heat rising from ancient stones—it can overwhelm. After a few days in the city, I need air. But while we’re here, we walk, we see, we feel, and fall in love with the Eternal City all over again. Don’t come here if you don’t like crowds, or as they say suck it up buttercup, it will be worth it.
The streets of the city are hot, the cobblestone upon which emperors, warriors, poets and peasants have trod is worn smooth by centuries of footsteps. They whisper history guiding us toward wonders that have stood for millennia. The city hums—voices, engines, the distant toll of church bells…..and yes tour guides screaming “Follow me”.
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The Fountains of Rome
There are over 2000 fountains in Rome, 300 of them being monument fountains. Many were commissioned to provide drinking water to the citizens and to honor the popes who commissioned them. Likely the most famous (and one of the biggest tourist traps) is the Trevi Fountain and despite the crowds, it still calls out, with a torrent of water and myth inviting us to toss a coin and trust in fate. As fate would have it, I’ve stood in front of Trevi at least 4 times and tossed a few coins.
Piazza Navona unfolds like a Baroque stage, where water and stone perform in perfect harmony. Once the site of Emperor Domitian’s stadium, this square now hosts three masterpieces that echo centuries of artistic rivalry as well as ambition of the popes who commissioned them. Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) is at the center of the square, symbolizing the great rivers of four continents. The Fontana del Moro features shows a fierce Moor wrestling a dolphin, wand the Fountain of Neptune shows Neptune locked in battle with a sea monster. Together, these fountains transform the piazza into a living gallery of myth, power, and flowing beauty.
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The Colosseum and the Pantheon
The Colosseum stands, vast and broken, its walls still whispering of blood and glory. Sunlight slants through the great oculus of the Pantheon, it cast shifting patterns on marble floors whose design was commissioned by Emperor Hadrian around 120 AD .
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St. Peters and the Sistine Chapel:
Wandering through the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel is like stepping into a divine masterpiece. The sheer scale of St. Peter’s—its marble floors, towering columns, and Michelangelo’s majestic dome—commands reverence. Every detail is a testament to centuries of devotion and artistry.
Then, stepping into the Sistine Chapel, the air seems to pause. Michelangelo’s Last Judgment towers above, while the iconic Creation of Adam stretches across the ceiling, alive with color and movement. It’s overwhelming, humbling, and unforgettable—a silent conversation between earth and heaven, told in brushstrokes.
It is well worth the cost to purchase a private tour early admission tickets….Let’s face it with hundreds of other tourists, even the “private tour” is not, but the early admission gives you a chance to get in before the masses…..pardon my pun.
No photo can truly capture it, but I had to try. (P.S the guards do not take kindly to one taking photos of the ceiling)…the more you know…
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The Neighborhoods
Rome reveals itself not only in monuments and grand frescos, but in the hush between footsteps, where soul meets stone. It speaks loudest in the alleyways of Trastevere and beneath the sun-dappled shade of Aventine Hill.
One of my favorite places is the Jewish Ghetto—a pocket of the city where history breathes with every step. The air is thick with the scent of warm bread and crispy fried artichokes. Laughter floats easily through narrow streets, layered over the clink of glasses and conversation. The Great Synagogue rises with quiet pride—a sentinel of memory and resilience.
The past lingers here, yes, but sorrow is not what defines it. These streets live. They pulse with presence. Rome doesn’t fade. It endures.
And while you’re there, let your appetite lead you to La Reginella. Their fried artichokes are a love letter to tradition. The vino flows, the pasta sings.
I’ve taken over a thousand photos of Rome alone, and yet they only begin to capture the soul of this incredible city. But Italy is so much more than the Eternal City—every corner of this country is a feast for the eyes, the palate, and the heart.
Stay tuned—there’s a whole journey beyond Rome waiting to be shared.
